Sentinel Soundbytes

How do you create professional development that teachers actually want to attend—and more importantly, can immediately apply in their classrooms?

On this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we sit down with Mary Clair Wright and Amy Mason to discuss how ASCTE is rethinking professional development for educators across Alabama.

From Cyber Immersion Days and classroom observations to AI and machine learning workshops, they share how teachers are gaining practical tools they can take straight back to their students. The conversation also explores the TEAMS initiative, why collaboration between educators is so valuable, and how ASCTE is helping teachers build confidence in emerging technologies while creating engaging STEM learning experiences.

Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or passionate about the future of education, this episode offers an inside look at the innovative programs helping shape the next generation of Alabama classrooms.

In this episode of Sentinel Soundbites, we sit down with ASCTE College Counselor Sheri Crigger and recent graduate Landon Grove to discuss the college planning journey, life after graduation, and how ASCTE prepares students for success beyond high school. Sheri shares how she works with students from their first year on campus through senior year, helping them navigate everything from college applications and scholarships to financial aid and career exploration. Landon reflects on his own experience, from arriving at ASCTE as a sophomore to earning admission to George Washington University, where he plans to study International Affairs.

Together, they discuss the Class of 2026's impressive accomplishments, the importance of starting the college planning process early, and the supportive culture that helps students celebrate one another's successes. The conversation also explores the unique opportunities available at ASCTE, including internships, dual enrollment, military pathways, and individualized college counseling that empowers students to create their own path after graduation. Whether you're a current student, parent, or future Sentinel, this episode offers valuable insight into what comes next after ASCTE.

What started as a college-era idea turned into a groundbreaking reality for students in North Alabama. In this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we go behind the scenes of WD&D 101.7 FM — the region’s first high school radio station — and the story of how it came to life. 

Dr. Chris Brown and Jeremy Turner share the journey from navigating FCC regulations and securing funding to building a fully functional studio and launching live on the air. Along the way, they highlight the students who helped bring it all together, including the hands-on work that made the station operational. 

More than just a radio station, WD&D is a creative platform — giving students the opportunity to produce original music, host shows, and even broadcast unique content like literary discussions and Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. It’s a story about vision, persistence, and creating real-world opportunities for the next generation.

In this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we sit down with ASCTE President Matt Massey and CTO Chase Golden for an inside look at one of the school’s most ambitious initiatives yet—the newly approved ASCTE Research Institute. They break down what a research center actually is, why it matters, and how it positions ASCTE as a global leader in cyber education. Matt and Chase walk through the Institute’s four research labs, the statewide impact of the Alabama Center of Excellence, and the strategic partnerships driving innovation across K–12, higher education, industry, and government.

We also dive into the physical expansion coming to campus, the 2027 opening timeline, and how student internships, capstones, and emerging-technology curriculum will be shaped by this new hub for collaboration. This episode offers a clear look at how ASCTE is preparing students—and the State of Alabama—for the future of cyber, AI, and engineering workforce development.

In this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we dive into ACCEL — Advancing Cyber Concepts & Engineering Learning, ASCTE’s statewide outreach initiative delivering hands-on cyber and engineering education to schools across Alabama and beyond.

MaryClair Wright and Dr. Chris Brown — educators who transitioned from industry to the classroom — share how ACCEL is expanding access to high-quality STEM learning. From coding micro: bits and “teleporting ducks” to launching water rockets, ACCEL brings interactive engineering and cybersecurity experiences to middle-school students who may have never seen technology like this before.

The goal? Spark curiosity, build confidence, and help every student realize:
You belong in the world of cyber and engineering.

We then welcome two ASCTE seniors and ACCEL interns, Phoebe and Micah, who share their first-hand experience traveling the state (and even to rural Alaska) to teach and inspire younger students. They discuss mentoring future innovators, having meaningful conversations about AI with middle-schoolers, and what it’s like to serve both as students and as part of the ASCTE team.

From statewide impact to student leadership and global outreach, this episode highlights how ACCEL is shaping the next generation of cyber and engineering leaders — one school visit, one rocket launch, and yes, even one teleporting duck at a time.

On this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we’re joined by two outstanding educators from the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering — Jessy Bryan, Lead Language Instructor, and Angela Pelle, Engineering Instructor.

As orientation kicks off and students return to campus, we explore how ASCTE weaves engineering into its core subjects. Jessy shares her journey from teaching AP Literature and Language to creating innovative projects that connect classics like The Great Gatsby to engineering principles, while celebrating record-setting AP exam pass rates. Angela brings her extensive background in civil and environmental engineering to the classroom, showing how hands-on projects — like building windmills inspired by The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind — give students a tangible link between reading and real-world applications.

Together, they highlight the power of collaboration between departments, the blending of technical and communication skills, and how ASCTE prepares students to think critically and solve problems in every field.

In this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we’re joined by two Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering faculty members who are shaping the next generation of leaders in tech: Beth Blair, Lead Counselor and Ethics Instructor, and Peter Speak, Cybersecurity Instructor.

Beth shares her journey to ASCTE, starting before the school’s opening in 2020, and how her role has evolved to include developing and teaching the school’s ethics curriculum. She explains how she helps students—many just beginning high school—develop critical thinking, personal values, and the ability to navigate complex decisions in both life and technology.

Peter reflects on his transition from industry into teaching, the advanced skills ASCTE students are learning at an early age, and the responsibility that comes with giving them “dark arts” cyber capabilities. He describes how ethics is woven into his cybersecurity classes, from analyzing real-world breaches to hands-on simulations of attacks and defenses.

Together, they discuss the balance between technical skills and moral responsibility, how ASCTE prepares students for high-stakes environments, and why critical thinking and perspective-taking are as vital as technical expertise.

If you’re interested in how future innovators are being trained to combine cutting-edge cyber skills with strong ethical foundations, this conversation offers a unique inside look at ASCTE’s approach.

On this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we sit down with ASCTE’s school nurses, Lacey Wright and Jennifer Raburn, to explore what student wellness looks like at a residential STEM high school. From daily meds and emergency protocols to parent communication and local healthcare partnerships, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the systems in place to keep ASCTE students safe, healthy, and supported, both in and out of the classroom. Whether you're a prospective parent or just curious about the unique demands of a boarding school environment, this episode sheds light on the heart and coordination behind student care.🎧

Tune in to hear:

What a “day in the life” looks like for ASCTE nurses

How onboarding works for students with medical needs

What happens when a student gets sick far from home

The collaboration between nurses, faculty, and residential staff

Advice for families preparing to send their students to ASCTE

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Rosemary Hodges of ASCTE and Lauren Pelto from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to explore the powerful partnership between education and industry. They dive into how internships and partnerships provide hands-on, real-world experiences that prepare students for critical workforce needs—especially in cybersecurity, engineering, and infrastructure. Hear how ASCTE students are gaining unique access to TVA’s cyber teams, ethical hacking exercises, and even out-of-state internships at TVA’s Chattanooga headquarters — all while contributing to the workforce development that’s helping power the rapidly growing Tennessee Valley region.

In this special end-of-year episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we’re recording on the campus of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering during one of the busiest—and most emotional—days of the year: move-out day, awards day, and the official last day of school.

In this episode, we sit down with residential student Carolyn Robertson and her father, Alan, for a heartfelt conversation about their family’s journey through Carolyn’s first year at ASCTE. They reflect on what it was like to make the decision to attend a boarding STEM school three hours from home, how they navigated long-distance parenting, and the unexpected personal growth Carolyn experienced through new friendships, academic challenges, and extracurricular involvement—from volleyball to theater.

Alan, who also serves as a principal at a public school in Alabama, offers a unique dual perspective—as both a parent and an educator—on the culture, communication, and care that set ASCTE apart.

Whether you’re a prospective parent, a curious student, or an education leader, this episode offers an inside look at what it means to be part of the ASCTE community.